he companions of
the bloodhound Khalid--you and Charity! I know you! I know what you did
in Syria. With these eyes have I seen you, and your bloodthirsty women,
and the foam on your raging lips. Here I stand to bear witness against
you and I cast it in your teeth: You broke faith in Damascus, and the
victims of your treachery--defenceless women and tender infants as well
as men--you killed with the sword or strangled with your hands. You--you
the Apostle of Compassion?--have you ever heard of Abyla? You, the
friend of your Prophet--I ask you what did you, who so tenderly spare
the tree by the wayside, do to the innocent folk of Abyla, whom you
fell upon like wolves in a sheepfold? You--you and Compassionate!" The
vehement girl, to whom no one had ever shown any pity, and on whose
soul the word had fallen like a mockery, who for long hours had been
suffering suppressed and torturing misery, felt it a relief to give free
vent to the anguish of her soul; she ended with a hard laugh, and waved
her hand round her head as though to disperse a swarm of gadflies.

What a woman!

Orion's gaze was fixed on her in horror--but in enchantment. Yes, his
mother had judged her rightly. No gentle, tender-hearted woman laughed
like that; but she was grand, splendid, wonderful in her wrath. She
reminded him of the picture of the goddess of vengeance, by Apelles,
which he had seen in Constantinople. His mother shrugged her shoulders
and cast a meaning glance at the widow, and even his father was startled
at the sight. He knew what had roused her; still he felt that he could
not permit this, and he recalled the excited girl to her senses by
speaking her name, half-reproachfully and half-regretfully, at first
quite gently but then louder and more severely.

She started like a sleep-walker suddenly awaked from her trance, passed
her hand over her eyes, and said, as she bowed her head before the
governor:

"Forgive me, Uncle, I am sorry for what has occurred--but it was
too much for me. You know what my past has been, and when I am
reminded--when I must listen to the praises even of the wretches to whom
my father and brother...."

A loud sob interrupted her; little Mary was clinging to her and weeping.
Orion could hardly keep himself from hastening to her and clasping her
in his arms. Ah, how well her woman's weakness became the noble girl!
How strongly it drew him to her!

But Paula soon recovered from it; even while the governor was s